Prepare Your Students for High School Writing!
Letterly’s Journal Bootcamp builds literacy skills through daily reading and writing, personalized feedback, and the chance to publish. With flexible program lengths, it helps students develop confidence and consistency in their writing.
At no cost to your school, you can:
- Offer students an engaging and effective summer program!
- Provide students with 1:1 writing feedback.
- See insights about student mastery of CCSS aligned standards.
Why The Journal Makes a Difference
Letterly’s mission is to empower writers and amplify their voices.
We are passionate about building consistent writing routines, improving student literacy levels, and sharing young writers’ stories.
Capture Valuable Student Data
Every time a student submits writing on the Letterly app, their progress is measured using Knowledge Points, Common-Core aligned benchmarks that provide meaningful insights about a student’s reading and writing skills.
Students Grow Half a Grade
Students who wrote consistently in a Journal Bootcamp improved half a full school level in only 2 months!*
*Based on a 2023 case study of student progress using Flesch-Kincaid levels.
Encourage Creative Critical Thinkers
The Journal gives writers the opportunity to explore their creativity, develop their unique voice, and share their thoughts with a broader audience.
Plus, the bootcamp teaches discipline, critical thinking, and effective communication—skills that are critical in any career.
The Journal Bootcamp Summer 2025
Learn more about the experience we offer to students when they sign up to participate in one of our 3-week bootcamps.
Rigorous Content, Daily
Each day (M-F), students will receive several prompts from which to choose. They will read, conduct research, and craft their own articles across a wide variety of genres: hard news, science/technology, sports, arts/culture, creative.
2 Rounds of Revisions
Each draft receives two rounds of feedback, returned within 48 hours of a timely submission.
This means that students have the opportunity to iterate on their work, maximizing their growth and progress.
30-min Meetings with Coaches
All students have the opportunity to meet with top-tier, passionate writing coaches weekly.
Track Knowledge Points
See the effects of rigorous programming with a living heat map of students’ reading and writing skills.
Access Student Work
Give teachers an opportunity to get to know students’ writing abilities before they even step foot into the classroom.
Online Magazine
Our goal is to feature as many student articles as possible on The Letterly Journal! With coach feedback and multiple revisions, students are sure to see their names in print.
Students Can Win Prizes!
At the end of the summer, all Letterly students are invited to enter the National Competition for free.
Letterly has a proven track record of empowering writers, one word at a time
How it Works
Join Letterly in our mission to build better writers and thinkers, one word at a time.
We run meaningful and challenging summer programs so that your students, families, and teachers can experience the benefits of consistent writing routines and helpful growth insights.
Chat With Our Team!
First, get connected to the amazing Letterly team and learn more about our summer programming.
We’ll provide you with promotional materials and details you can share with your school community.
Spread the Word
Share this opportunity with students in your school community to keep students engaged over the summer.
The Journal acts as the perfect ELA enrichment tool in lieu of summer reading assignments and mundane tasks.
Flexible 3-week bootcamp options in June, July, and August allow students to keep reading and writing all vacation long.
Celebrate Students
Now, sit back as Letterly runs The Journal bootcamp with the help of top-tier Ivy League coaches and a curriculum team with previous classroom experience.
Together, we will celebrate student accomplishments as they submit their daily articles and become published authors.
Plus, they’ll have an opportunity to enter the National Letterly Writing Competition for free!
Inspiration from Our Students
See the power of personalized learning reflected in the work of our talented young writers!
The Rose Tree in Front of My House
Grace G.
The author reflects on her family’s memories that grow entangled within a rose tree, highlighting their shared history and strong relations. This piece won first place in the 2023 Letterly Journal Summer Writing Competition.
A Chance to Recover
Jerry Z.
In this creative essay, the author recounts the bittersweet anxiety of participating in a chess competition. He paints his opponents as the bearers of some of his greatest lessons, invigorating his drive for becoming better. This piece won second place in the 2023 Letterly Journal Summer Writing Competition.
How to Stay Alive: Be Quiet
Anya C.
In this chilling short piece, the author depicts the haunting reality of life in American schools. She uses deep metaphors and subtle imagery to send chills down the readers’ spines. This piece won second place in the 2024 Letterly Journal Summer Writing Competition.
Les Miserables Made Me Feel Many Things, But Miserable Was Not One of Them
Benjamin
He: This critical review dives into all the best bits and pieces of the world-renowned musical movie, Les Miserables, while highlighting the author’s witty sarcasm and unique commentary.
Simone Biles Wins Gold in 2024 Olympics All-Around
Isabella W.
In this soft news sports article, the author recounts the rollercoaster of events surrounding Biles’ performance at the 2024 Olympics.
Most Students Fail New Challenging Curriculum: AP Sleep
Richard Z.
This witty satirical piece engages with a mix of fact-based research and fictional storytelling to discuss a relevant phenomenon amongst students everywhere.
Student Experiences
Check Out These Testimonials from Previous Letterly Students
“Letterly positively impacted me by getting me hooked and infinitely interested in both the editorial and newspaper process, which eventually led me to create my school’s first unofficial newspaper at the beginning of the year. Now I can confidently share my successes as the winner of Letterly’s Feature Frontrunner and Committed Columnist awards, and second place winner in the Letterly special edition writing contest.”
Ben
“What I enjoyed the most about Letterly was how the coaches gave detailed feedback and helped me improve my writing skills with specific advice. The program helped greatly with English class next year, since my writing skill didn’t deteriorate over the summer and had even improved! Before the program, I’d always thought writing was a tedious affair, but after a summer of writing an article per day, I found writing to be more enjoyable, and I’ve also improved on my time management skills from the constant flow of writing prompts.”
Richard
“While participating in The Journal Bootcamp, I interacted with a personal coach who understood my skills and strengths and guided me in the right direction. I could discuss my writing in detail through weekly meetings and receive personalized feedback on improving it. By the end of the camp, I better understood how to create clear and impactful essays that would resonate with the reader. Personally, I improved a lot on word redundancies and expanded my vocabulary. This bootcamp was a great opportunity, and I highly recommend it for aspiring writers.”
Grace
FAQ
Is it really free for schools?
Yes! There is no cost for schools to participate. Families cover the program fee, so schools can promote this opportunity as a summer enrichment tool without impacting their budget.
How does this help my school?
The Journal Bootcamp enhances students’ reading and writing skills, helping them build a strong academic foundation before entering high school. Improved literacy and critical thinking benefit your incoming freshmen, boosting overall academic performance and school reputation. Additionally, the program aligns with Common Core standards, supporting your school’s educational goals.
Where should I direct interested students?
Interested students and families can visit letterly.io/the-journal to learn more and sign up directly. We will also provide flyers or digital resources to make it easy to share the information.
Who is eligible to participate in the bootcamp?
The Journal is open to any student who wants to improve their writing and reading skills over the summer.
Students will be split into two age groups: Goldfish Crew (8-12) and Shark Squad (13+) to ensure they are engaging with rigorous content for their levels.
What is the deadline to register?
Registration deadlines may vary, but we recommend signing up as soon as possible to secure a spot. Please check letterly.io/the-journal for this summer’s schedule.
What will participants gain from this bootcamp?
Participants will improve their reading and writing skills through daily prompts and receive personalized feedback. They’ll have the opportunity to publish their work online, track their progress using Knowledge Points, and gain confidence in their abilities.
Plus, weekly 1:1 coaching with Ivy League-educated mentors adds a unique level of guidance and support.
What kind of writing will students submit?
Students will submit a variety of writing, including opinion pieces, hard and soft news articles, and creative works. The prompts are designed to engage critical thinking, creativity, and self-expression while building essential academic skills.